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4 minors rescued, 2 traffickers arrested at Barharwa station; 6 more minors rescued at same station
Officials say four minors were rescued and two men arrested at Barharwa railway station in Sahibganj after a tip-off about trafficking for labor. On the same day, six more minors were rescued at the station before boarding trains, with several from Taljhari and Kotalpokhar areas.
Why It Matters
The incidents highlight ongoing efforts to disrupt child trafficking and labor exploitation in railway hubs and the broader need for protective measures for minors.
Timeline
2 Events
Six minors rescued at the station before boarding trains
May 5, 2026
In another operation on Tuesday afternoon, the RPF rescued six minors (including two girls) at Barharwa railway station before they could board trains. The children were found in the circulating area without significant luggage. During questioning, three of them (two girls and a boy aged 10–17) said they were from the Taljhari police station area and had connected via social media before leaving home without informing their families. One girl, aged 10, said she arrived with a young male acquaintance who fled upon spotting RPF personnel. The remaining three minors (all boys from the Kotalpokhar police station area) said they intended to travel to Patna in search of work as labourers. All six minors were kept at the RPF post for legal formalities and were handed over to a non-profit organization for protection, counselling, and further statutory procedures.
Rescue of four minors and arrest of two traffickers
May 5, 2026
The Railway Protection Force (RPF) rescued four minors at platform 1 of Barharwa railway station after a tip-off about trafficking for manual labour. The four minors are reported to be residents of Barhait, Sahibganj district. They stated they were lured with promises of jobs in Ambala (Haryana) and Saharanpur (Uttar Pradesh), with monthly wages of ₹9,000–₹12,000. Two men, Manoj Sah and Mohammed Ataul Ansari, were arrested and reportedly confessed during interrogation. A written complaint was lodged with the Government Railway Police, and the rescued minors were placed under protective custody.